Charles Ilfeld Company Records
Collection
Identifier: MSS-91-BC
Scope and Content
The collection contains records of the Charles Ilfeld Company including correspondence, ledgers, receipts and invoices, inventories, and advertisements. It is divided into three series: correspondence, account books and ledgers, and records of other businesses. The correspondence, 1867-1903, contains letters received and letters sent, both arranged chronologically, and consisting mostly of orders placed with the company. These are followed by copies (Copy Books) of remittance letters and letters specific to sheep raising, wool, and mail contracts. The account books and ledgers, 1865-1916, begin with the first cash book of A. Letcher, whose business was the predecessor to the Charles Ilfeld Company. These records of the company's financial transactions are arranged chronologically by type of record: cash books, journals, and ledgers. The last part of the collection consists of records of other businesses associated with the Ilfeld Company. These include Rancho Pajarito, Waddingham Ranch, Marcus Brunswick, Solomon Floersheim, Ilfeld Brothers (Noa and Louis Ilfeld, partners), and Louis Ilfeld Company.
There is no Box 1 for this collection, nor are there box/item numbers 43-63.
There is no Box 1 for this collection, nor are there box/item numbers 43-63.
Dates
- 1865-1929
Creator
- Charles Ilfeld Company (Organization)
Language of Materials
English.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Institutional History
Charles Ilfeld, born in Homburg, Germany in 1847, arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1865. There he joined the mercantile business of Elsberg and Amberg as a clerk. A few months later, he relocated to Taos to work for Adolph Letcher in his business as a trader and agent, primarily for Elsberg and Amberg. By 1867 Taos was no longer a viable trade center and A. Letcher and Company moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where Charles Ilfeld became a partner in the firm. Seven years later, Letcher sold his interest to Ilfeld, who changed the name of the business to Charles Ilfeld Company.
Ilfeld's business eventually grew into the largest mercantile firm in New Mexico, with sales of $25,000,000 at its peak in 1952. Max Nordhaus, Ilfeld's brother-in-law, joined the company in 1886. His expertise in finance led the company to expand, opening branch stores around the territory. Shifting focus from retail to wholesale distribution, the company closed most of its retail stores in 1907. The wholesale business capitalized on the railways to buy and sell goods. For instance, wool was purchased from New Mexico ranchers and sold in eastern markets, where manufactured goods were bought for distribution back in New Mexico. "Wholesalers of everything" became the company motto. Branches were established and warehouses built along railroad lines in Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Magdalena, and Gallup. Nordhaus became company president in 1929 upon the death of Charles Ilfeld. The business operated until 1961, when increasing competition forced the decision to sell off assets. A new company was formed at that time dealing solely in hardware. In 1970 the Charles Ilfeld Hardware Company was liquidated, ending a century of Ilfeld merchandizing in New Mexico.
Ilfeld's business eventually grew into the largest mercantile firm in New Mexico, with sales of $25,000,000 at its peak in 1952. Max Nordhaus, Ilfeld's brother-in-law, joined the company in 1886. His expertise in finance led the company to expand, opening branch stores around the territory. Shifting focus from retail to wholesale distribution, the company closed most of its retail stores in 1907. The wholesale business capitalized on the railways to buy and sell goods. For instance, wool was purchased from New Mexico ranchers and sold in eastern markets, where manufactured goods were bought for distribution back in New Mexico. "Wholesalers of everything" became the company motto. Branches were established and warehouses built along railroad lines in Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Magdalena, and Gallup. Nordhaus became company president in 1929 upon the death of Charles Ilfeld. The business operated until 1961, when increasing competition forced the decision to sell off assets. A new company was formed at that time dealing solely in hardware. In 1970 the Charles Ilfeld Hardware Company was liquidated, ending a century of Ilfeld merchandizing in New Mexico.
Extent
42 boxes (20.55 cu. ft.), plus 235 volumes, plus oversize folder
Separated Material
Photographs transferred to Charles Ilfeld Company Photograph Collection.
Relevant Secondary Sources
- Parish, William. The Charles Ilfeld Company; a Study of the Rise and Decline of Mercantile Capitalism in New Mexico. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1961.
Processing Information
Charles Ilfeld Company Wholesale Hardware & Appliances catalog added, July 2003
Creator
- Charles Ilfeld Company (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Charles Ilfeld Company Records, 1865-1929
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by K. Ferris
- Date
- ©2000
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 91 BC::Charles Ilfeld Company Records)//EN" "nmu1mss91bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu